Autumn Leaves

They were everywhere! When I woke up this morning, I decided that I gave my trees enough time to shed and finally raked them up. It was driving me crazy! I absolutely loathe yard work and will put it off until the last minute if I can.

It took me two hours to rake, bag, and sweep everything up! But I had some company.Meet Darla :)

Must be nice to lay in the sun while someone else is doing all the work! I had the house door open for her to go in and out, but she stayed with me the entire time even though she eventually got a little bored as you can see in the pictures! She's so cute.

Thrift Store Tips

Have I mentioned how much I love thrift stores? To me it's like finding buried treasure. You sort, sift, search, scour, repeat. Sometimes you find something worth the time and effort. Sometimes you don't. That's what makes it fun. A lot of people would be overwhelmed walking into a thrift store for the first time so this post is for those people. Maybe you have thought about trying it out but don't know where to begin, or maybe you're skeptical about what you can find. Thrift store shopping can be chaotic, frustrating, a bit time-consuming, but don't let it stop you! Once you score those first great deals, you will be HOOKED!

First, think about how thrift store shopping can be beneficial:
1) It saves $$$. You're money will stretch far. Think about how much you pay for one item at a department store. Think about being able to buy 5-10 things for the cost of that one item.

2) It helps a good cause. Thrift stores are often owned by charity or non-profit organizations. Because the items are donated, the money from the sales help fund charities and community programs.

3) It's eco-friendly. You recycle cans, bottles, and re-use items for other purposes. Why not clothes too? You are giving life to an item that might otherwise have been thrown in the
garbage and keeping things out of the landfill.

4) There's a wide variety. When you shop at department and other retail stores, there's probably 50 other people who have that same exact item. Thrift stores offer one of a kind pieces that you can probably bet nobody else is wearing and you can't find anywhere else.

5) You get the thrill of the hunt. Finding an awesome item at a great price is always a good feeling!

6) Things are in better condition than you might think! Just because things are donated doesn't mean that they are all falling apart. Think about the stuff in your closet that hasn't been worn for a while. They are still in perfect condition, but maybe it's just not your style anymore or maybe you changed your mind about something you bought but it's too late to return so it's just hanging out in your closet. A lot of the store's inventory come from those situations. There are plenty of items with tags still attached!

7) You get to use your imagination. There aren't any mannequins or store ads telling you what to wear. This is wear you can expand your creativity and really make the style your own.

Before you go/store tips:
1) Try to go on a week day. The weekends can get very packed which can discourage you from really diving in and sorting through all the racks.

2) Ask a worker what days the store stocks new inventory. Then try to go as early as possible to have the best selection.

3) Find out if there are days that offer special discounts. A lot of stores offer an extra percentage off of certain tag colors or an extra percentage off the senior discount. Bring a grandparent!

4) Look out for coupons. I've seen coupons in my area's Pennysaver for up to 50% off a purchase total. Check your newspaper or any community ad/circular.

5) Wear the right the right clothes for shopping. You will be doing a lot of sifting. You don't want to get too hot while shopping.

6) Wear the right undergarments. Try to wear a strapless nude bra/underwear for trying things on. It's easier to envision a final outfit when you don't have a clashing bra strap peaking through or colorful underwear showing.

7) Bring cash. Usually stores accept debit/credit, but bring cash just in case.

8) Check reviews online. Find thrift stores that have good ratings. People will tell you what kinds of things can be found and if they got good deals on them.

9) Be willing to spend a little time looking. You don't want to miss out on a great deal because you're in a hurry!

10)Have fun! Just keep thinking that you will find something perfect! It's out there somewhere! It takes patience at times.

Shopping tips (Clothes):
1) Be open minded. Think of what you could do with an item instead of just looking at what's on the hanger. Things can be tweaked and styled with just a little imagination. Shoulder pads can be removed. Granny skirts can be hemmed. Bulky pieces can be belted.

2) Consider alterations. Things can be fixed to better suit you. Hemming the bottom of pants and skirts, replacing buttons, or mending a ripped seam are easy fixes. If you don't have the slightest clue about how to work a needle, you can ask a friend or a family member. More complicated jobs can be altered professionally by a tailor for a fair price.

3) Don't shop according to your size. Obviously this wouldn't work for things like jeans, shorts, etc. But if you're a certain letter size, don't limit yourself to just that section. You might find that oversized sweater that hangs off your shoulder and looks great with leggings and boots, or a too big for you dress that magically fits with the use of a waist belt. The sizes will greatly vary especially since it's a bunch of different manufacturers. Also keep in mind that you're dealing with different eras. Things made in the past couple of years fit differently than things made in the 70s, 80s, etc.

4) Try things on! Things always look different on than it does on the hanger. If something catches your eye, snatch it up and head to the fitting room! Most places launder their items before putting them out if that's a concern of yours. It won't kill you, I promise.

5) Examine your pieces thoroughly before bringing them to the register. Missing buttons, tears along seams are quick and easy fixes, but you don't want to come home with something that
will cost more to fix than what you paid or what it would be worth.

And don't forget to check out everything else!! Books, accessories, home decor, furniture, party decorations, craft projects.. The possibilities are endless!

A Thrifting We Will Go

My Sundays usually consist of cleaning, catching up on dvr'd tv shows, and going through my newspaper for ads and coupons. Today I changed it up a bit and decided to visit my favorite place to shop: the thrift store! It wasn't very busy today which was great because it allowed me to go through every single rack without having to cross paths with anyone. Don't you hate when you've developed a rhythm for sorting through clothes but have to stop because somebody has claimed a spot right smack dab in the middle? You have to stop, go around, then come back to that place. It just messes with the efficiency of things. Luckily, I was able to avoid that today.

Here's some of what I was able to pick up today:

Olive Jeggings $2.99, White Dress $2.99 by H&M (brand new w/ tag still attached!), Sheer Navy Blouse by Ann Taylor Loft $3.99, White Top by Old Navy $1.49, Clutch by Kenneth Cole Reaction $3.99

On Clearance

Did some shopping today and found some really great deals! I stopped by a few stores, but found the bulk of today's buys at Ross and Rue21. They both had a really great clearance section, and this made me very very happy!

from Ross:

black top $4.99, jumbo 3" velcro rollers $1.99

from Rue21:

silky gray top $5, cream lace dress $7, sheer cream top $5, hat $2, sunglasses $2, bag $5, elephant necklace $2

SCORE!!

Mr. Postman!

Mailman? Mailwoman? Whoever delivers my mail is my best friend. I always look forward to that person's visit hoping that I'll have some goodies ready for me to pick up from my box. I always get excited to find something there. Whether it's makeup, dog food, anything; I'm excited to have it. This past month, I've received a lot of fun stuff:

Kotex, Garnier Fructis, Crest 3D white, Crest Whitestrip, Playtex, Herbal Essences, John Frieda, Aquafresh, Origins.. Keep 'em coming!

Christmastime is Here!

I had some time to put my Christmas tree up, and while I was at it I figured I might as well put up the rest of my knickknacks. So that's what I did! Well, the ones I could find anyways. I'm pretty sure I have boxes of more decorations, but I can't seem to remember where I put them. I should really write myself a memo to buy some of those red and green plastic tubs that they sell during the holidays to put all of my holiday junk in. It would make things so much easier! In the meantime, I'll keep digging around and hope I come across them. I'll probably try to attempt to put up Christmas lights in the front yard some time later this week. For now, you can enjoy some of the many pictures I took of what I've accomplished today :)

PS Did anyone catch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show? After all of the decorating, I had a big plate of spaghetti, a glass of wine, and VS Angels strutting their stuff on the tube. I think I was drooling over the girls more than my boyfriend was. They looked gorgeous! Also, after watching the show I decided that I must own a pair of sequined underwear. Not very practical and probably not the most comfortable things, but they sure are cute!

A Little Something

I was out with a friend and decided to pop into Sephora to use a gift card that I was given for my birthday. I picked up a little bottle of Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil Moisturizer that I found in the trial/travel section that they have near the registers. On the box it says that it can be used as a daily moisturizer, to treat split ends, condition cuticles, as a body moisturizer, to soothe rough patches of skin, and as a bath oil. This interested me so I went ahead and got it without really giving it much more thought. I felt a little bad on the way home knowing that I spent $15 on a tiny bottle of something that I have never heard of before, but when I got home I checked Sephora's website and was relieved to find that it was highly rated. Made me feel a little better. Hope it works out for me!

Wine Tasting

I spent my Saturday at a few wineries with my boyfriend and some friends. It wasn't my first time going wine tasting, but I'm very new to it. I couldn't tell you what was good and what wasn't because I'm still trying to learn the basics. I had a great time as usual, especially since the weather was beautiful that day.

Black Friday

I decided at the last minute to brave the crowds today. BIG mistake. I didn't have anything in particular that I wanted to buy so I ended up just browsing through things that weren't even heavily discounted. All I have to show for today's outing are two pairs of sunglasses, a sweater, and a lace dress. All good bargains but definitely not worth the wait in line.

$2 sunglasses? Sure, why not.

Flea Market Goodies

I went to the flea market today. The weather was perfect; sunny, slightly breezy. I didn't pick up very many things, but I had fun strolling around with my mom. Here's what I picked up:

All bargains. *Cue happy dance* Necklace $2, Ring $1, Eyebrow Shapers $1, Eyelashes $2.

And of course I had to pick up some lunch. My carne asada tacos were delish!

Hope everyone is having a good day :)